RC simulator – a primer

The safest way to start your rc hobby, whether you would like to start out with rc planes or rc helicopters, is either to start flying your rc aircraft by yourself, find a teacher to fly dual with or to use rc flight simulator software.

I have written an earlier article on rc flight simulators called 5 important rc flight simulators where I listed five of the most common rc simulators today. In the process of choosing a suitable rc simulator, it can be used as a help.

Why you should get an rc simulator

The first and maybe most important thing to learn with an rc simulator is the thumb-to-eye coordination. You will need to learn to react to things happening to your rc airplane by looking at it in a distant and then translate what you see with your eyes into moving your thumbs, which in turn are moving the sticks on the rc transmitter, which in turn moves the airplane.

Another thing of great use is to learn to handle the rc plane correctly when flying towards you, which can be tricky in tight situation. If you want to get into 3D flying with your rc plane, it can be a good thing to first practice it in your simulator. You will be in control over which weather conditions you will fly in, which flying site to use and which rc plane or rc helicopter to fly.

Fly whichever rc aircraft you like

Most rc flight simulators come with a big set of preinstalled aircraft models. The most common brands and types are usually present for you to try. If the plane you like is not included some rc simulators give those with the skills and knowledge the possibility to create their own models for use in the rc simulator software and tweak the different parameters in order to make the rc model fly as realistically as possible.

One possible drawback among the simulators today is that most of them are designed for Windows only. So if you are among the Mac lovers you will not have as many rc simulators to choose from.

RealFlight 6 on YouTube

Possibly the greatest benefit with rc simulator software that you can crash again and again and again and you will be up and flying within a clicks reach. No hours, weeks or even months of repair work is needed after a crash. But as with all simulators you will only learn to fly an rc plane up to a certain point using the rc simulator. No rc simulator software will beat the real thing!

If you would like to learn more about rc simulators you can visit some of the following resources: